Two Fredericksburg Nationals staff members, Eric Taylor and Chris Krick, received top honors in the Carolina League following the team’s 2024 championship season. Taylor, the FredNats’ Head Groundskeeper, was named Carolina League Groundskeeper of the Year, while Home Clubhouse Manager Krick earned the title of Home Clubhouse Manager of the Year. The awards, chosen through surveys of league managers, players, and executives, recognize their dedication to maintaining an exceptional playing and clubhouse environment.
FredNats General Manager Robbie Perry praised their contributions, noting that their hard work set the foundation for a historic season. This marks the first time since 2020 that two individuals from the same Carolina League team have won these awards.
Taylor, a five-time Groundskeeper of the Year awardee, has previously been recognized in the Southern League with the Jackson Generals and Tennessee Smokies. Meanwhile, Krick recently accepted a position with the Washington Nationals, where he will manage Minor League clubhouse operations in Florida.
The Fredericksburg Nationals (FredNats) had a successful 2024 season, highlighted by winning their first Carolina League Championship since moving to Fredericksburg in 2020. This was the franchise’s first title since 2014. They claimed the title with a decisive 3-0 victory over the Kannapolis Cannon Ballers, led by standout performances from pitcher Travis Sykora and first baseman Brandon Pimentel. The team showed resilience after a rain delay forced a doubleheader on the final day. Despite a loss in the first game, the FredNats bounced back to secure the championship in the second.
The Fredericksburg Nationals (Fred Nats) have postponed their second game in a row due to two days of rain. Between 0.3 and 0.9 inches of rain fell over the last 72 hours, as reported by the National Weather Service, leading to soggy conditions on the field.
According to the United States Geological Survey (USGS), Fredericksburg has seen 12.6 inches of rain in just over two months. May brought 3.96 inches, June recorded 5.73 inches, and July has already seen 2.91 inches as of July 12. USGS collects real-time data at 15-60 minute intervals.
Despite these recent rains, June 2024 was recorded as the driest June in the past 130 years, with a decrease of 3.56 inches from the normal rainfall. Year-to-date, Fredericksburg is having its 58th driest year over the same period, with a shortfall of 1.18 inches from the usual precipitation levels, as noted by National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) National Integrated Drought Information System (NIDS). NOAA lists Fredericksburg as in a “moderate drought” on their website.
The Fred Nats currently have a season tally of 47 wins and 35 losses, placing them second in the North Division of the Carolina League. They have scored 394 runs and conceded 347 runs so far this season?.
The Nats are scheduled for a doubleheader on Saturday, July 13 against the Carolina Mudcats, starting at 5:05 p.m. Perhaps Thursday’s rainbow will bring them luck.
"[Daryl] Overton, known for his success at Freedom High School in Prince William County, had announced on Feb. 13 that he would take over the football program at Hayfield. Overton said he would be working daily as a security guard at Hayfield.
He arrived at Hayfield amid high expectations but has quickly become a center of controversy, according to sources, including demands for a “donation” from a “Team Mom/Manager” who said she had worked for six years with Overton at Freedom High School. Later, Overton promoted a fundraiser on [an] online platform that raised an estimated $29,630. The Fairfax County Times interviewed numerous sources for this story, and they asked to remain anonymous, afraid of retaliation against them or their children.", reports Fairfax County Times.
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![The JMU mascot, the “Duke Dog,” excited everyone this year. [Photo by Heather Johnson]](https://www.potomaclocal.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/jmu-duke-dog.jpg)
This is the year for the James Madison University Dukes football team, and it all comes to fruition on Saturday, Dec. 23, 2023, when JMU plays Air Force in the Armed Forces Bowl in Texas.
Sure, it’s not the Sugar or Rose Bowl, but it’s a big step for JMU, and a few local watch parties are planned around Fredericksburg that afternoon.
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The Center Square: "Washington's NBA and NHL franchises have announced intention of a move to northern Virginia, part of a $2 billion public-private partnership to create a “world-class” entertainment district in the Alexandria's Potomac Yard neighborhood."
"News of the move began to break Monday and Tuesday, with Wednesday's news conference by Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin confirming. A vote Monday by state lawmakers was affirmative, and another of the full General Assembly is needed. The NBA Wizards and NHL Capitals are owned by Ted Leonsis, the CEO of Monumental Sports & Entertainment."
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The FredNats were within three outs of taking the six-game series at Grainger Stadium in Kinston, but the Down East Wood Ducks rallied for two runs in the bottom of the 9th on a pinch-hit, walk-off two-run home run by Abimelec Ortiz to spoil the Sunday for the FredNats.
Two out of Down East’s three wins in the series were walk-offs. Prior to this series, Fredericksburg had not been walked off this season.
Andry Lara pitched well for the second time in the series as the starter for Fredericksburg. The top-10 Nationals prospect went 5 1/3 innings and did not allow an earned run with six strikeouts. Two unearned runs scored on Lara, and the FredNats had three total errors in the game.
Will Frizzell continued his hot streak at the plate, hitting his second homer as a FredNat and driving in a run in the 1st inning with an RBI single. Viandel Peña had the other RBI for the FredNats with a sacrifice fly.
A.J. Candelario pitched 1 2/3 scoreless innings of relief out of the FredNat bullpen following up Lara. On offense, the FredNats only managed four hits in the game, two of them by Frizzell.
Fredericksburg maintains a comfortable 6.5 game lead in the Carolina League North Division in the 2nd half. The team returns home to Virginia Credit Union Stadium on Tuesday to begin a six-game series with the Augusta GreenJackets. The first pitch on Tuesday is scheduled for 7:05 p.m.
Lucas Mendes of the Fredericksburg Fire arena soccer team has been named to the USA567 national team roster for its upcoming exhibition game against the Mexican National Futbol Rapido Team.
The international arena soccer exhibition game will take place on Saturday, August 13, at Idaho Central Arena in Boise, Idaho. This will be the fourth meeting between the teams in Idaho since 2019.
Mendes is the only player from Virginia and will join others from California, Florida, Washington State, and Canada.
Adding to his accolades from the Fire’s inaugural season, Mendes, the Gatorade High School Player of the Year in 2015, while a senior at Washington-Lee High School (now Washington-Liberty) after previously playing in D.C. United Academy system is the first player in franchise history to earn this honor.
Mendes will join a company as the only Major Arena Soccer League player named to the roster not from the professional league’s top division. The Fire plays in MASL3, the third tier of the nationally-played league. The fancy-footed striker concluded the Fire’s 2021-22 MASL3 season with 16 goals and eight assists in just seven games.
The forward looks to carry over that same energy on the international stage against Mexico’s star-studded roster.
“I’m humbled and excited,” he said. “This is an amazing opportunity, and I hope to bring back a few tricks to the Fire for year two.”
Click Here for the USA567 full release, which includes the full roster.
Fredericksburg Fire is a professional arena soccer team founded in 2020 and based in Fredericksburg. The Fire competes in Major Arena Soccer League 3, playing its home games at Fredericksburg Field House. To find out more about the Fire, visit our website at fxbgfirefc.com.
FREDERICKSBURG — Fredericksburg baseball fans are one step closer to seeing Minor League Baseball in their city — construction on the new stadium is set to begin in July.
Currently, the site stands dormant with rocks, trees, dirt, and even a local business sign that needs to be excavated before construction can begin.
The Potomac Nationals, the Nationals’ Single-A Advanced affiliate, plan to make the move down from their current stadium in Woodbridge to Fredericksburg by 2020.
“Site work is set to begin in early July on the stadium to be located in Celebrate Virginia South,” the team wrote in a press release.
The $35 million state-of-the-art stadium is slated to open in time for Opening Day 2020 which broke ground back in February where over 1,000 fans were on-hand to participate in the festivities.
Even if the team weren’t able to open the stadium due to construction delays, they wouldn’t be in violation of the agreement with the city.
The agreement states that Fredericksburg would have the right to terminate the contract if the stadium weren’t ready by April 1, 2021.
In the agreement, the city will pay the ballclub $1.05 million every year for the next 30 years. In return, the ballclub will privately fund the stadium.
The team has already sold all 13 suites in its stadium and has more than 1,250 members of its Founders Club. These members will have priority season ticket seating when it becomes available in July.
“[It’s] unheard of to sell every suite a year before the stadiums opening,” part-owner Seth Silber said back in February.
The stadium will also include a family-fun pavilion, a water park, a homerun porch, an ice-skating rink, a year-round restaurant and 5,000 seats.
The team will also discount tickets to military members every Sunday in their partnership with SimVentions. They will also include a “Hats off to Heroes” with the playing of God Bless America during the 7th inning stretch. The Washington Nationals participate in the same ceremony every home game.
The team had more than 2,400 responses in its “Name The Team” contest that was conducted during April.
Fredericksburg residents provided input on the name, mascot, and colors.
The team plans to unveil the team name and logo to fans at a public event in the early fall.
“Based on this incredible response, Fredericksburg Baseball is moving forward with finalizing the team name, developing a new logo and uniform designs,” Fredericksburg Baseball said. “The team plans to unveil the team name and logo to its fans early this fall at a public event.”
Fredericksburg Baseball plans to open its downtown store on July 5 located on the first floor at 601 Caroline Street. The team plans to have the store open from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. that day.
Fans will be able to buy all types of Fredericksburg merchandise, including hats and t-shirts.
Fans can see the progress on the stadium’s construction at the team’s official website and follow the team on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.
The Potomac Nationals won the Carolina League Mills Cup as recently as 2014.
They won the Northern Division last year but ultimately fell short in a one-game, shortened series against the Buies Creek Astros.
Massaponax rains down on Mountain View
Mixing just the right ingredients, Massaponax cooked Mountain View 24-14 in a Virginia high school football matchup at Mountain View High.
The Panthers drew first blood by forging a 7-0 margin over the Wildcats after the first quarter.
Massaponax opened a meager 14-0 gap over Mountain View at the intermission.
The Panthers and the Wildcats were engaged in a small affair at 14-8 as the fourth quarter started.
The Panthers hummed like a well-oiled machine through the fourth quarter, extending the lead with a 10-6 advantage in the frame.
Boxed in: Osbourn’s defense bottles Osbourn Park’s attack
Osbourn didn’t bring a magic wand, just a defensive bond that eliminated Osbourn Park’s attack in a virtuoso 21-0 performance for a Virginia high school football victory on November 2.
